Fence-post



(No ModeL) I. K. HOLLINGER. FENCE POST-,

No. 464,873. Patented Dec. 8, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT O EICE. I

ISAAC K. IIOLLINGER, OF lVEAVERS STATION, OIIIO.

FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 464,873, dated December 8, 1891..

Application filed September 1, 1891. Serial No. 404,437 (No model.)

To (LZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ISAAC K. HoLLINeEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at VVeavers Station, in the county of Darke and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Posts; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improvement in fence-posts, and is more particularly designed as a post for use with wire fences.

The object of the invention is to provide a durable post at a minimum expense; and a further object of the invention is to provide means for bracing the post, so as to hold the same in an erect position, the parts being so.

arranged that by a simple adjustment of certain devices the post may be straightenedor pitched to one side, as desired.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description and claims when taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side view of my improved fence-post with parts broken away and showing the same in aposition readyfor use. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the post and its braces in a position removed from the ground, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the braces removed.

In carrying out my invention I take a bar of iron or other suitable material of a sufficient length and width and bend the same from the point a outwardly and downwardly in an oblique position to form the branch I), and this branch I then bend inwardly to form a horizontal branch 0. I then take a corresponding bar of iron or other suitable material B of a size and shape corresponding-with the bar A and bend or shape the same in a corresponding manner at its lower end, so as to form an outwardly and downwardly oblique branch d and a horizontal inwardly-di rected branch 6, thereby forming by the combined sections A and 13 two vertical parts or branches, as shown at E and G, and from the ground-line down an angular loop or stirrup 0, within which a suitable ballast is preferably placed, the branches G andF starting from the ground-line up, where they assume a parallel position, and are designed to confine between them the upper end of thebrace, as will be presently explained. The lower ends of the bars A and B are designed to overlap each other, and are secured together in the overlapped position by a suitable clamp, as shown.

E indicates a combined anchor and brace bar. This bar, which is also preferably formed of iron, is of a form substantially as shown, and is secured to the horizontal base branches and between the same by means of the upper plate h, the lower plate t, and bolts or other suitable fastening devices. It is obvious that instead of this particular clamping or holding device other means might be employed for securing the overlapped sections of the post together and fastening the bar E in position. This combined anchor and brace bar E is secured to the post at a point nearer one end than the other, so that the short endl thereof, which is bent upwardly and termi mates in a book an or the like, will in operation assume the position sutlicientlybeneath the surface of the earth, while thelonger and upwardly-curved branch n, which terminates in a reversely-directed hook 29, may assume a position above the surface to receive one end of a brace, as shown.

I indicates a flat bar. This bar is firmly secured at its lower end by means of'a bolt (1 to the downwardly-oblique branch of one of the sections of the post, as shown, and the opposite end of said bar, which is preferably given a slight curve, is designed-to normally bear against the upper outer side of said post-section.

K indicates a clamp, which embraces the parallel branches of the post and also the bar I, and is designed to move vertically thereon. It will be observedthat this bar assumes a vertically-inclined position, so that as the clamp is moved down upon the same thetwo parallel branches of the post are forced more closely together, and consequently tighter, upon the diagonal brace, which will be presently described. In the present illustration of my invention I have shown this clamp as composed of two parallel plates arranged on opposite sides of the post and two-headed screw-bolts s, with'nuts t, for connectingthe same, although it is obvious that any other clamping device might be employed.

L indicates the diagonal brace. This brace is designed to rest at one end in the hookp of the anchor-bar, and its opposite end is designed to enter a space between the two vertical branches of the post and pass in between the clamp K. By this means it will be seen that as the clamp is pushed down upon the post the upper end of the diagonal brace will be correspondingly depressed, and as the lower end of the diagonal brace is stayed by the anchor-bar the post will be deflected in an opposite direction. This means is particularly desirable in straightening the posts. To the short end of the anchor-bar is attached a brace M. This brace is preferably composed of wire, which is looped over the hook or bent portion m of said anchor-bar, and after crossing its branches has its opposite ends wrapped around the post at the ground-line. I prefer to use wire, as before stated, by reason of its cheapness and convenience in applying the same when a large ballast or stone has been used on that end of the anchor-bar, although in-many cases I may use the brace shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, which has its lower end bent or provided with a lug, as u, to engage the portion m of the anchor-bar and its opposite or upper end split and twisted and the branches of the slit portion formed into oppositely-directed hooks t to embrace the adjacent edges of the post at or near the ground-line, the twisted part to being designed to enter the space between the branches of the post.

Inplacing the post after digging a suitable hole and uniting the two sections with the anchor-bar interposed and securing the same in position I place the post, with its anchorbar attached, in the hole thus made. I then preferably place a stone, such as N, so as to rest the outer end of the long branch of the an chor-bar thereon, after which I place a suitable ballast upon the anchor-bar, and also the horizontal base branches on the post, preferably stone. I then apply the braces M and L inthe-manner described, and then place the clamp K down over the top of the post so as to embrace the upper end of the diagonal brace L and'the flat bar I, when all of the parts will become firmly connected and the post secured in a substantial upright position. To correct any lateral deviation of the post, it is simply necessary to force down the clamp K, when the brace L will be brought into action and the post straightened from such inclination as it may have a tendency to assume from the action of the opposite brace.

IVhileI have shown and described the post as made of two sections or parts,I may in some cases make it of a singlepiece of material, two parts being used for the sake of convenience in handling as well as cheapness in utilizing small pieces, and in some casesI might dispense with the short branch of the anchor-bar, and consequently the brace-Wire connected thereto, as it will be found sufficient in some places to simply provide the anchor-bar with the branch at and employ a single diagonal brace, such as L.

Having described my invention, what I claim,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. The fence-post formed from the two vertical corresponding sections having their lower ends directed outwardly and downwardly and terminating in two inwardly-directed branches,- so as to form a stirrup, in combination with the curved anchor-bar having one end provided with a stop or lug on its upper side and its opposite end provided with a hook or the" like and designed to-assume a position at less altitude than the former, a diagonal brace adapted to connect one end of the anchor with the post at about the ground-line, and the brace having one end adapted to enter the post near its upper end and its opposite end adapted to engage the lug or stop of said anchonthe flatbar secured to one of the branches of the post, and the vertically-movable clamp adapted to embrace the upper end of the post, the fiat bar, and the upper end of the diagonal brace, substantially as specified.

2. A fence-post composed of two vertical parallel branches bent to forma stirrup, in combination with the anchor-bar secured to the base of said post and having its opposite ends provided with hooks or the like, and di agonal braces engaging at their lower ends the opposite ends of the anchor-bar, and one'of the braces secured to the post about the ground-line thereof and the opposite brace secured to the post at a greater altitude, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, with a fence-post, of an anchor-bar secured thereto and having-one end provided with a lug or stop, a diagonal brace bearing against said stop at one end and its opposite end bearing against "the upperportion of the post, and a vertically-movable clamp embracing said post and the upper end of the brace, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix m y signature in presence of two witnesses.

ISAAC K. HOLLINGER. Witnesses:

HOLMES E; OFFLEY, CHARLES H. RAEDER. 

